By Kelli Acciardo, Parade
Summer is prime time for rooftop bars—and imbibing from tippity-top spaces. And with socially distant practices being put into place, we can’t help but migrate towards these lounges in the sky when the need for a cocktail and a light bite calls. There’s just something about drinking under the stars (or sun) with sweeping vistas that you can’t beat.
Nowadays most rooftop sanctuaries are even keeping their high rise hot spots heated or enclosed (via tarps and retractable ceilings) and basically run with a business as usual vibe. Which obviously we appreciate, well beyond summer. While the warmer states can get away with the whole outdoor living 24-7 thing, New Englanders and Midwesterners want in on the action, too. Let’s face it: Even Southern cities can benefit from a heat lamp in the dead of January and February sometimes.
From New York, Boston and Philly, to Denver, San Francisco and Memphis, here’s where to head when you’re not ready to say goodbye to al fresco day drinking and breezy perches with the best views just yet.
The Vanderbilt Roof Deck
When you think of Newport bars, dockside watering holes and swanky mansion lounges most likely come to mind. There's another popular gem that's not to be missed, however. The Vanderbilt Roof Deck is reserved for in-the-know visitors looking for a side of elevated ambiance with their pre-dinner drinks. Enjoy a beautiful New England sunset from the Adirondack chairs, martini in hand.
B On Top at Gansevoort Meatpacking
Bagatelle Group’s rooftop concept at Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC has a fresh look—and vibe—as B On Top. The year-round spot features a cozy interior with posh couches, fireplace, artisanal cocktails and shareable French-Mediterranean plates (think mezze samplers and Greek spinach pie bites). So when in the Meatpacking district, make it a point to pop in.
Lumac at The Bristol Hotel
While there are plenty of reasons to whisk away to Bristol, Virgina, a stay at the ever-charming Bristol Hotel is at the top of the list. Home to Lumac, the only year-round rooftop bar in this mountain city, it was built with lazy weekends and after-work drinks in mind. The starlit space provides a well-appointed respite with plaid blankets and fire pits, but you can also sip cocktails indoors, gazing out at the snow-capped Appalachian and Smoky Mountains.
Lookout Rooftop at The Envoy Hotel in Boston, MA
Boasting one of the largest rooftop bar scenes in Boston, Lookout Rooftop at The Envoy is prime territory for Sunday Funday, or sunset sips overlooking downtown Beantown's skyline and waterfront. There's also an impressive array of seating options—six feet apart—ranging from plush couches and bar stools, to heated igloos come wintertime.
Make Believe at SIXTY LES in New York, NY
Who isn't down with millennial pink touche, a bar bedecked with suspended birdcages and a DJ booth swathed in a flock of feathers? Make Believe at SIXTY LES is legit rooftop goals for a bachelorette party, birthday party, or you know, happy hour.
Hu. Roof at Hu. Hotel in Memphis, TN
Hu. Hotel is Memphis' newest boutique hotel and their namesake Hu. Roof is a year-round destination for quaffable tipples and dreamy sunsets over the Mississippi River. Shareable small plates and a nightly Hernando DeSoto Bridge light show round out the list of visit-worthy perks.
Assembly Rooftop Bar at The Logan in Philadelphia, PA
St. Cloud at The Knickerbocker
With three plush corner Sky Pods overlooking Times Square (and the ball drop), St. Cloud is always a good time. There's roomy outdoor and indoor seating options and lush, living greenery walls that make The Knickerbocker's rooftop a blend of biergarten and speak-easy fun.
The Lost Square at The Alida in Savannah, GA
Situated high above Savannah’s Riverfront, The Lost Square at The Alida will be your vacay HQ when in town for unobstructed views and pretty epic rum punch bowls. Curl up on a couch by the roaring, central, wood-burning fireplace, mingle with the locals and ponder the charm of the coastal Southeast.
Percheron at Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City, MO
When in Kansas City, swing by Percheron at Crossroads Hotel. This newbie on the block oozes quirky cool, thanks to its former PBR bottling plant digs. Saddle up to the bar for frozen cocktails, then grab a socially distant picnic table for your group. Did we mention there's a weekly bocce ball tournament and a run club serving up free post-run PBRs on the roof? See ya there.
Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel in New York, NY
The beauty of the indoor-outdoor Upstairs at The Kimberly (besides the fact that it sits 30-stories high) is that it's open year-round, friends. That means 365 days of unrivaled glimpses of midtown Manhattan and The Chrysler Building, while you're indulging in a bucket list-worthy NYC-style brunch.
Thompson Nashville in Nashville, TN
This rooftop nest might not look like the honky-tonk Nashville you're used to seeing, but that's why we love it. Music City refuses to be typecast and at the heart of this little big town’s explosive growth is Thompson Nashville, AKA the place to be. Sharing the block with bluegrass and roots music icon The Station Inn, the top floor of the boutique hotel is home to L.A. Jackson, an indoor-outdoor enclave with an unbeatable viewpoint of downtown Nashville.
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